The Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony
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The Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony iAugust 27th, 2006j
@Senshoji Temple conducted its Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony.
Hokozan Senshoji
Temple was recently established, after the High Priest Nichinyo Shonin
conducted the ceremony for opening the Temple and enshrinement of the wooden
Gohonzon on March 18th of 2006.
The members of Senshoji Temple include an assembly of the former Byakuren-ko
chapter members, as well as a group from Heianji and Myoseiji Temples.
It has been 5 months since these members have embarked on their new beginning
with their base temple Senshoji. On August 27th, Senshoji Temple conducted its
Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony.
Chief Priest, Rev. Shutoku Nishida, hopes to guide a warm and considerate chapter,
and in turn the members, under the guidance of Rev. Nishida, vow to move forward
in the goal of doubling the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.
The Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony
At 2:00 pm on August 27th, the Hokkeko Inaugural Ceremony was conducted
at Hokozan Senshoji Temple.
Already introduced in the 164th issue of gMyokyo,h former representative
of Myoseiji Temple, Mr. Kawahara, and his wife, donated this building
in order to build a temple. In addition, Nichiren Shoshu conducted repairs
on
the building and brought in Buddhist altar fittings.
On March 18th of 2006, the temple requested the honour of having 68th
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin conduct the ceremony for opening the temple
and enshrinement
for the wooden Gohonzon.
Senshoji Temple became the first temple to have its wooden Gohonzon enshrined
by Nichinyo Shonin since his Inauguration as High Priest. Also, the wooden
Gohonzon enshrined to the temple was the last Gohonzon transcribed by
the Honorable Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin. Senshoji has a very
deep bond
with both High Priests.
Honorable Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin and his wife visited Senshoji
Temple together on a separate day in August. It was a very memorable
day for the members of Senshoji Temple.
It has now been five months since the opening of the Senshoji Temple.
It started as an assembly of members from three chapters, the former
Byakuren-ko,
and sections of Heianji and Myoseiji Temples' chapters.
Because it is a newly established temple, Senshoji Temple needed to start
everything from the beginning, including obtaining permission from the
Head Office of Nichiren Shoshu to start a new Hokkeko chapter organization.
Since it is an assembly of three chapters, organizing everything was
expected to be very difficult. However, despite the presumed obstacles
for both Chief
Priest and members, through his experience and his ability to teach,
Rev. Nishida was able to organize the members through any hardships that
they
faced, and welcome the Inaugural Ceremony of the Senshoji Hokkeko Chapter.
Rev. Shinryo Sugawara, Chief Priest of Myoseiji Temple and Chief of the
Northern Kinki Propagation Area, along with each Chief Priest within
that area, attended
the Inaugural Ceremony. Also, the Dai-koto and Regional Chief of the
North Kinki Region, Mr. Shotaro Kawahara, along with the Kanji members,
board members,
Koto and representative believers from each chapter in the region, and
the members from Senshoji Chapter attended the ceremony.
The day of the ceremony was divided between the service section and the
ceremony section.
First, during the service section, Chief Priest Shutoku Nishida offered
Kenzen, recited the Sutra, and chanted solemnly according to the traditional
formality
of Nichiren Shoshu. Then, he offered his gratitude towards the Three
Treasures of True Buddhism.
After a brief break, they proceeded on to the ceremony section, where
Rev. Sugawara transmitted the permit, to form the chapter organization,
to the
Koto of Senshoji Chapter, Mrs. Sadako Kawahara, and then Rev. Nishida
transmitted the certification to the Koto and the chapter officials.
Then, Vice Koto Mr. Okuyama gave a progress report, on the overcoming
of numerous difficulties, and becoming an independent chapter.
Following that, Mr. Kawahara, the regional chief representing the North
Kinki region, talked about the deep bond between Honorable High Priest
Nikken Shonin,
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, and Senshoji Temple. He also encouraged
proceeding forward with Shakubuku practice under the guidance of
High Priest Nichinyo
Shonin, accomplishing the goal of 300 households in 3 years, and the
further aim for a lineup of 1000 households.
Next, Rev. Kendo Kawai, Vice Chief of the Northern Kinki Propagation
Area, took the platform on behalf of the Area Chief and Propagation Area.
He delivered
a congratulatory message, and encouraged everyone to respond towards
the compassion of both High Priests, to never forget our initial earnestness
in practice, to abundantly offer Shodai, and strive towards the accomplishment
of the Achievement of Doubling the Number of the Bodhisattvas of the
Earth
and Gathering at the Great Assembly for the 750th Anniversary of Revealing
the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho
Ankoku-ron in 2009.
Senshoji Hokkeko Chapter Koto Mrs. Kawahara respectfully thanked all
of the priests and members for attending the Inaugural Ceremony,
and offered her
congratulatory message with the determination to strive towards the realization
of Nichiren Daishonin's Rissho Ankoku Ron.
Bringing up the guidance of Honorable High Priest Nikken Shonin, Senshoji
Chief Priest Rev. Nishida said that it is his policy to try to
build a warm and thoughtful chapter. Also, trying to follow High Priest
Nichinyo Shonin's
guidance, gKosen-Rufu should be established based on our strong
and
firm faith and consistent effort,h Rev. Nishida expressed great
determination towards Doubling the Number of the Bodhisattvas of the
Earth and
gathering
at the Great Assembly, and told everyone that they must carry pride
in being a member of the Seishoji Temple, and strive towards Kosen-
Rufu.
After the speech, the ceremonial part closed with the participants
singing gJiyu Santokuh, and chanting Daimoku three times.
Afterwards, commemorative pictures were taken, and the ceremony
concluded at 4:00 pm.
Senshoji Temple will endeavor to move forward as a significant
part of propagation in Kyoto and strive under the unification
of priest
and lay
believers, with
strong Itai Doshin within the chapter.